Community Spotlight ~ Shout Out Thank you HCW!

lookalikeadog · 02-24-2010, 09:20:56 AM

I'm hoping this is the right area for a BIG FAT THANK YOU to HCW and all the wonderful Mod's and members that share there gifts of thriftiness.

I am a stem cell transplant patient suffering with rejection of my new cells (Chronic Graft VS Host) and when trying to help another patient dealing wiht the same this morning realized how this site has changed my life. I am attaching a copy of my response to a him. He is feeling down because his stem cell rejection has left him un able to contribute to his household and un able to do the job he had been trained to do. While trying to give him hope, a light went on in my head. Wow, HCW really changed my life! Read below:

Chris,

I think most of us have gone through what your going through. Seems like ages ago that those close to me were pointing out the amigo on the way into the shopping center, suggesting a Cain or a handicapped sticker for our truck. Some making comments "gee it's been a year since transplant, she should be back to work by now". ARG! I was a full time working Mom and wife for many years and then came CML. Yea, the transplant was pretty easy and then came cGVHD. I worked a few hours a week thanks to a wonderful Chiropractor that I had worked full time for before my DX. I really think he did it more for me then him and I was soo lucky to have him as a boss. Getting up in age He had to sell his practice and I was left with a group of employees that would spare no other to make a good impression on the new Dr. so, I did my job of getting him set up and going and bowed out.

About a year later I was in a funk and found my idle mind only thought of "doom and gloom" then Kevin (my darling hubby) came home with the news...
They had been bought by Eaton and the plant is being moved to Mexico, he would be un employed for the first time in his life @ 50 yr's of age. Now I had to get myself into survival mode and quick. We had about 6 months before the doors would close and I had to ease the burden, I knew even without a job there was something I could do.

At that time my husband and I had 8 prescriptions between us (he is a heart by pass patient) and that was going to be a problem if we lost coverage. I started looking for ways to chop the cost and fell into a world that would literally change my life. I found a group of folks that had a common goal of being thrifty and sharing the information with others on how to get the best deal on just about everything. I could go on forever but I'll make it short. By the time my husband was out of a job we had paid off over $3500 in debt and I had a stash of CVS, Walgreens, Target and Rite aid Gift cards that was well over $500 from moving our scripts around to different pharmacy's. (good for milk, bread and eggs). I also had a pantry full of everything we would need to get us by for the next year. Our sons lovingly called our basement pantry "the fall out shelter".

Well thanks to the lord above my husband received a call 3 months after his shop closed and was hired by a local business loosing no pay or benefits. Seems the storm had blown over, but what could I do with my new found talent? I called my local church. I now stock about 50% of the items in the pantry with my "free after coupon" finds and have met a whole group of folks that DO get what's going on with me and appreciate the work I do. I also started a concession stand for the boy's H.S. Baseball team. After watching our son play and seeing parents rolling in after work dragging in coolers and running out to get Gatorade and dinner I started putting my coupons to use there. Got a slew of things "free or almost free after coupons" and set up a stand for summer league, that stand will now be made permanent thanks to a team at home depot who will help with the dirty work. I may not get $$ for doing my new job but I have a purpose.

Believe me Chris, you are needed somewhere and have other talents and friends you have not discovered yet. I thank God every day that I have found mine.

Best to you,

Lisa Lambert
CML 2002, SCT 2003 from brother, cGVHD 2005

HCW Thanks for giving me purpose, BIG TIGHT HUGS to all of you.

Mrs H · 02-24-2010, 10:04:17 AM

What a very touching email you sent to your friend.
Sometimes in our deep dispair, we find new and exciting ways to improve our lives and the lives of others, and your email to your friend is a true testiment to that.
HCW has changed so many lives for the better. We are so blessed.

Bless you for sharing your story~

Kelly ( MrsH)

Shadowchasy · 02-24-2010, 04:14:53 PM

very touching story. My life as well as been changed thanks to HCW, therefore I wanted to give back some of what I got from this site and that is why I became a MOD here.